Great-Grandson launches effort to save DesLoge Tower at SLU Hospital

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ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – An effort is underway to save an iconic St. Louis University building. A man whose name is on the original building is pitching ideas to save it.

The fifteen story building here with its copper roof is the image of SLU Hospital. But with SSM promising a new, more modern facility on Grand, the future of the DesLoge Tower and Chapel is clearly in doubt.

And who better to try and save it than someone with the name DesLoge. Chris DesLoge is the great-grandson of the man whose name is etched over the original front door. He's offering a plan.

What's to happen here hasn't been determined. SSM is promising something new, they just haven't figured out what to do with the old. Chris DesLoge's foundation for commercial philanthropy is asking that SSM start by renovating the old structure. Their idea, turn at least part of it into an incubator site, similar to what Cortex has done in its revitalization of it's part of the Central West End. But this project would be for non-profits.

They've also proposed living quarters for the families of patients, a museum dedicated to African-Americans in medicine, as well as housing for medical students and class space for SLU's medical school. But before any of it can happen, SSM has to be convinced, and right now they are noncommittal, saying their plans for the area are still in a very early stage.